The significance of the Cowboys' blowout win over the Rams

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Vernon Bryant/Staff Photographer

Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray (29) leaps over Dallas Cowboys tackle Doug Free (68) to get a first down during the second half of play at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Sunday, September 22, 2013. The Dallas Cowboys defeated the St. Louis Rams 31-7. (Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News)

ARLINGTON --The conclusion that emerges from Sunday’s game is far different from the narrative that lead up to it.

These Cowboys do not lack the persistence and physical presence required to run the ball. A 31-7 victory over St. Louis also tables the nagging suspicion that this team lacks the gene it needs to learn and evolve.

Questions remain. But one week after an all too familiar loss to Kansas City, the Cowboys make it clear that they are the class of the NFC East.

Cautious sorts will argue it’s too early for that proclamation. They are right. But there are some intriguing developments.

A team that never led from start to finish in any game last season has done so twice in the first three games. The 24-point margin of victory is the largest in 26 games, dating back to November of 2011.

For the first time in six years, which means the first time in this $1.15 billion palace, the Cowboys have won their first two home games to open the season.

“If this means that AT&T is lucky for us,’’ owner Jerry Jones said, “then so be it.’’

The Cowboys lead the NFC East _ and are assured of no worse than a share of the lead heading into October in eight days _ because they are 2-0 at home while the remainder of the division is 0-5. The New York Giants and Washington Redskins have yet to win any game while Philadelphia has dropped two straight.

“I think that before we start putting the dirt on the coffin, figuratively speaking, I think we better wait and see some more games played,’’ Jones said. “This division could turn out to be as strong as horseradish.’’

Jones shows restraint? That’s as uncharacteristic as the Cowboys performance on the first day of fall.

DeMarco Murray rushed for 175 yards and a touchdown after barely showing up the week before with 25 yards on the ground. An offense that rushed for only 124 yards for an average of 3.2 yards a carry the first two games finished with 193 yards on 5.7 yards a carry in this one.

Coordinator Bill Callahan tipped the scales on this normally pass-happy offense, calling 34 run plays to 24 pass plays. The offensive line was physical and dominated an outstanding defensive front for St. Louis to set the tone for the afternoon.

“I thought Bill did a good job calling the game,’’ head coach Jason Garrett said. “I thought the balance was good throughout the game. We kept giving DeMarco Murray opportunities to run the ball from a lot of different personnel groups, a lot of different formations.

“We were consistent and efficient running it throughout the game. I thought that was the difference for us on offense.’’

A strong ground game and early lead allowed Callahan to call the game he wanted and quarterback Tony Romo to look downfield more than he had the previous two weeks. Two of his three touchdown passes went for 24 yards.

Meanwhile, a Rams offensive line that hadn’t allowed a sack in four games dating back to last season was tormented. The Cowboys got to quarterback Sam Bradford six times. Defensive end DeMarcus Ware led the way with two sacks to pass Harvey Martin to top the Cowboys all-time list with 115.

“He is a special football player and has been for a long time,’’ Garrett said.

The Cowboys took a 17-0 lead into the lockeroom and were clearly in control. But remember, this team held a 13-7 lead midway through the third quarter against the Chiefs and were unable to finish.

“Kansas City, we felt like we didn’t step on their throats and we gave them a chance to come back,’’ safety Barry Church said. “This game, we were up early and we just felt like, ‘hey, we’ve got to step on these guys throats and not let them come back like they did against Atlanta because they came back from 24-down.’

“We were able to do that.’’

The Cowboys did that by taking the opening kickoff of the second half and driving it 80 yards in six plays to take a 24-0 lead on a touchdown pass to rookie tight end Gavin Escobar.

“Regardless of what the score is, you’ve got to keep playing,’’ Garrett said. “You want to dominate your guy each and every time and do your job to the best of your ability.

“When you start doing that on a consistent basis, you start having a good football team.’’

Catch David Moore on The Ticket (KTCK-AM 1310) three days a week with The Musers (Mon-Wed-Fri) at 9:35 a.m., twice a week (Tues-Fri) with The Hardline at 4:15 p.m. and once a week (Mon) with BaD Radio at 2:35 p.m. during the regular season.

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